Device for mixing a cleaning agent with a stream of water



June 25, 1957' M. ALPERT 2,797,132

DEVICE FOR MIXING A CLEANING AGENT WITH A STREAM OF WATER Filed N v. so, 1954 I IIIIIIIIIIIMIIJIIJ- A v I v INVENTOR.

. Max 7 144 P52 7- ATTCRNEY DEVICE FOR MIXING A CLEANING AGENT WITH A STREAM F WATER Max Alpert, Manitowoc, Wis., assignor to Pacific Coast Products, :1 copartnership consisting of Henry Chester and Harry N. Schwartz, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 30, 1954, Serial No. 472,024 4 Claims. Cl. 299-84 This invention relates to a device for mixing a cleaning agent such as soap or a detergent with a stream of water.

The device has particular utility for mixing soap or detergent with a stream of water for washing automobiles, although it may be adapted for use wherever it is desired to mix any fluid borne additive with another fluid stream.

The invention resides in my novel structure in which the detergent storage chamber and fluid flow tube are concentric, the storage chamber being exposed to the pressurized fluid to place the detergent within the storage chamber under pressure to force it to enter the fluid stream under the control of a needle valve. I have found it advantageous in the embodiment of the invention shown herein to provide a loose fit between the flow tube and the bore of the chamber closure plug through which the pressurized fluid enters the flow tube to provide for substantial leakage of pressurized fluid into the storage chamber for the purpose aforesaid.

I also find it advantageous to make the overall diameter of the storage chamber not materially greater than the diameter of a conventional garden water hose. Accordingly, the device may be coupled to the end of the hose and handled therewith with ease and facility. In the combination aforesaid the mixing device may be held in the hand as part of the handle of an automobile washing brush, for example.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following disclosure in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing my device attached between an auto wash brush and a garden hose.

Fig. 2 is an axial cross section taken through a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective on a reduced scale showing an end plug of my device removed to expose the storage chamber for filling.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary axial cross sectional view taken through a modified embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary axial cross sectional view taken through a further modified embodiment of my invention.

The device of my invention comprises an elongated annular storage chamber having a cylindrical outer wall 10 and a concentric cylindrical inner wall 15. The ends of the storage chamber are closed by end plugs 11 and 12. The plugs 11 and 12 respectively have axially aligned bores 13, 14 which receive the ends of cylindrical wall 15, which further comprises a water flow tube. Tube is fast in the bore 13 of plug 11 and is desirably pressed in bore 13 to receive sole support from plug 11. Bore 14 of plug 12, however, is desirably of greater diameter than tube 15 to provide a circumferential clearance space 16 therebetween.

Tube 10 is desirably in pressed fit connection with the atent O 2,797,132 Patented June 25, 1957 outer periphery of plug 11 and engages the shoulder 17 of peripheral ridge 18 formed on the plug. The end of plug 11 beyond ridge 18 is desirably threaded at 19 for connection to any means for dispensing water, such as a conventional garden hose-faucet or the automobile wash brush 20 shown in Fig. 1. The threaded portion 19 of the plug 11 is provided with a tapering passageway 23 which communicates with bore 13,

The end of tube 10 connected to plug 12 is provided with an internal thread 24 to receive complementary external threads on plug 12. Plug 12 is provided with a shoulder 25 against which the end of the tube 10 seats when the plug is fully threaded thereon. Plug 12 is provided with a cavity 26 and with internal threads 27 to receive the externally threaded coupling 28 of a conventional hose such as the garden hose 29 shown fragmentarily in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 5, lug 12 may be unscrewed from its connection to the tube 10 whereupon a cleaning agent, such as a liquid detergent, may be poured into the storage chamber from the detergent bottle 32. The plug 12 is then re-threaded to the tube 10 and the coupling 28 of hose 29 threaded thereto. When the hose 29 is pressurized with water, or other fluid, the pressurized fluid is admitted to the storage chamber through the space 16 between tube 15 and the bore 14 of plug 10 to tend to force the detergent out of the other end of the chamber as hereinafter described.

Plug 11 is provided with a duct 33 which communicates with a needle valve 34 of conventional structure having an outlet 35 in bore 13 and in the path of water flowing through flow tube 15. Accordingly, by adjusting the needle valve by its handle 36, any desired amount of detergent may be passed from the storage chamber into the stream of liquid. The water or other fluid admitted through the clearance space 16 into the storage chamber may mix with the detergent. This is not regarded as undesirable as mixing of the two fluids is the ultimate purpose of the device.

Devices fabricated according to my invention have a storage chamber capacity of several ounces of liquid detergent. This is adequate to wash two or three cars before additional detergent need be added to the chamber. When it is desired to rinse the object washed, needle valve 34 is simply closed and clear water will flow from the discharge passage 23. Accordingly, the needle valve may be alternately opened and closed to wash and rinse the object.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show modified means for admitting pressurized fluid from hose 29 into the storage chamber. In Fig. 6 the plug 37 is provided with one or more ducts 38 which lead directly into the storage chamber. In Fig. 7 the plug 41 supports the end of the flow tube 42 which may have one or more radial openings 43 for this purpose. The device shown in Fig. 2 is preferred, however, as it eliminates need for additional machining operations.

As before indicated, tube 10 is desirably made of a diameter not materially larger than that of the hose 29. Accordingly, the device may function as a handle for wash brush 20 or any other faucet or discharge device that may be coupled to the threads 19 on plug 11.

I claim:

1. In a device for mixing an additive to a pressurized fluid stream, the combination with a first tube forming an additive storage chamber, a second tube of smaller diameter than the first tube and within said first tube and forming a passage for said fluid stream and a partition between said additive chamber and said fluid stream, outlets for said first and second tubes, means for commingling additive and fluid issuing from said outlets, and means for admitting pressurized fluid from said stream into said addi tive chamber at a point remote from its outlet to pressurize said additive and force it through its outlet, the end of the first tube opposite its outlet being provided with a closure plug having means for connecting it to a source of fluid,- said means for admitting pressurized fluid to said additive chamber comprisingsaid plug'having a bore into which said second tube extends, the bore being of greater diameter than the second tube whereby pressurizcd fluid will flow between the wall of the bore and the second tube and into the additive chamber.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the end of the first tube opposite its' outlet is provided with a hose coupling having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the first tube whereby said device comprises an extension of the hose without material change in cross section.

3. A device for mixing a cleaning agent with a stream of water and comprising a tubular storage chamber for the cleaning agent, a concentric flow tube within said chamber and disposed on the axis of said chamber, closure plugs for the ends of the storage chamber, said plugs having axially aligned bores in which the ends of said flow tube are disposed, one of said plugs having a discharge opening from its bore and the other having means for connecting a source of water pressure to its bore,

duct means from said storage chamber to said discharge opening and a control valve in said duct means, and means for admitting pressurized water from said stream to said storage chamber to pressurize said chamber and force its contents into the discharge opening under control of said valve, said flow tube being fast in one of said plug bores and loose in the other plug bore whereby said other plug bore may be removed from the storage chamber to expose said chamber for filling with cleaning agent, the chamber wall, said one end plug and flow tube being sealed to confine said cleaning agent pending restoration of the other plug.

4. The device of claim 3 in which the loose fitting of the flow tube in the other plug bore comprises said means for admitting pressurized water into said storage chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,135,969 Donaldson Nov. 8, 1938 2,540,064 'Weber Ian. 30, 1951 2,545,110 Schaar et al Mar. 13, 1951 

